The Lauramoore Friends Home is a beautifully preserved 14-room Victorian home, located on 1.3 beautiful acres. The home is furnished with antiques of the period. Formerly a private residence, it is now incorporated as a non-profit organization, administered by Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting (Religious Society of Friends/Quakers). It is open to individuals of all faiths.
The house was built in 1860 by Thomas and Mary Birdsall. Mary Thistlethwaite Birdsall is a significant figue in Indiana and national history. She was involved in social movements of the period, and was particularly committed to the issues of emancipation, temperance and women's suffrage. Her writings were published in the Indiana Farmer and later she was co-editor of The Lily. She was instrumental in the organization of the Indiana Association for Women's Rights and was several times secretary of the National Conference for Women's Rights during the 1850's. She was one of the first three women ever to address the legislature of Indiana.
The house was sold to Charles and Laura Moore in 1899. In 1927, it was acquired by the Whitewater Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. The members of this meeting owned and worshiped in the Hicksite meetinghouse on North A Street before selling it to the Wayne County Historical Museum. The house was opened as a boarding/retirement home in 1927 for Quakers and others in need of independent housing. It also served as a temporary meeting place for Whitewater Monthly Meeting, with worship in the parlor. At that time a frame addition was added on the north and west corner of the house.
In 1951, the Lauramoore was incorporated as a not-for-profit, tax expemt charitable organization. It has a Board of Directors which meets quarterly. A subcommittee of the board, comprised mostly of local Richmond Quakers, is charged with the daily operations of the Lauramoore. The staff is hired by and reports to this committee.
The style of construction of the house is considered to be Italianate Gothic, using a cruciform ground plan. The brick used in the original structure was made nearby on the Thistlethwaite property. This unique home exhibits Victorian charm and is filled with period decoration and antiques. The grounds include a small woods, gardens, and 24 species of mature trees.
The Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board recommended the Lauramoore in 1999 for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, and also to be considered a National Historic Landmark. This recommendation has been forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register with the National Park Service, and in September 1999 was named to the National Register of Historic Places.
The mission of the Lauramoore is: "To provide an excellent, moderately priced retirement home, in a loving family atmosphere, and to maintain and preserve the historically significant building." There are rooms for nine residents and all meals are provided, with staff on duty 24 hours a day. Residents are expected to be independent and may come and go freely. If needed, home health care can be arranged by the Lauramoore with an outside provider.
| Home |